Milford Sound Cruise: Stunning Views & Optional Picnic or Buffet

Overview

Available languages

German

Portuguese

Korean

English

Chinese (China)

French

Spanish

1 hour 45 minutes

Mobile ticket

Get closer to Milford Sound's natural wonders aboard our spacious, purpose-built catamarans. Enjoy more room to move around, with incredible views from our outdoor viewing decks or cosy interior cabins.

Get closer to the famous waterfalls and towering cliffs of Milford Sound, plus expert commentary sharing fascinating insights into the local wildlife and geological formations. Download our free app for commentary in eight languages.

Includes options to pre-order a freshly prepared picnic lunch or choose the To Kai buffet on selected departers. With 70+ years of expertise, we deliver unforgettable journeys in this breathtaking landscape and ensure a premium experience for all.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

All passengers please advise country of origin at the time of booking

Car Parking: On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour. Please allow 10 minutes to walk from the main carpark to the Milford Wharf Visitor Centre. Alternatively, you can park free of charge at Deepwater Basin Carpark and walk over to Freshwater Basin to the Cruise Terminal. This walk is approximately 30 minutes in duration, so additional time will need to be allocated in order to do this comfortably and arrive at the terminal 15 minutes prior to your cruise for check-in.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Multi-lingual app for commentary available: App Store and Google Play search Southern Discoveries

Lunch (if option selected)

Sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound for up to 2 hours

Live commentary provided by the skipper

FREE tea and coffee are provided to all passengers

Hotel pickup and drop-off

On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour.

What To Expect

Your journey starts here, check in with friendly staff at least 15 minutes prior to departure.

15 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Fiordland National Park

Fiordland National Park is in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s known for the glacier-carved fiords of Doubtful and Milford sounds. A beech forest trail on the sandy Milford shore offers views of towering Mitre Peak. Nearby, the craggy Earl Mountains are reflected in the glassy surface of Mirror Lakes. On the Cleddau River, the Chasm Walk passes over bridges with views of powerful waterfalls.

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

11.15am Nature Cruise only

1hr 45min Nature Cruise

1.30pm Nature Cruise & Buffet

12:45pm Nature Cruise & Picnic

12.45pm Nature Cruise & Picnic

3.15pm Nature Cruise only

Milford Sound Nature Cruise for 1 hour 45 mins with complimentary tea and coffee.

12.45pm Nature Cruise only

11.15am Nature Cruise & Buffet

11.15am Nature with Buffet: 1hour 45min Milford Sound Nature Cruise with a freshly made buffet onboard

1.15pm Nature Cruise & Picnic

1:15pm Nature with Picnic: 2-hour Milford Sound Nature Cruise with a freshly packed Picnic Lunch.

3.45pm Nature Cruise & Picnic

1.15pm Nature Cruise & Buffet

1.15pm Nature with Buffet: 1hour 45min Milford Sound Nature Cruise with a freshly made buffet onboard

10.30am Nature Cruise only

Milford Sound Nature Cruise for 2 hours. Includes complimentary tea and coffee

3.15pm Nature Cruise & Picnic

Milford Sound Nature Cruise for 1 hour 45 mins. Includes a freshly prepared Picnic Lunch and complimentary tea and coffee.

1.15pm Nature Cruise only

1:15pm Nature Cruise: 2 Hour Milford Sound Nature Cruise with Complimentary Tea & Coffee.

1.30pm Nature Cruise & Picnic

10.30am Nature Cruise & Picnic

2 Hour Milford Sound Nature Cruise with complimentary tea and coffee.

3.45pm Nature Cruise only

11.15am Nature Cruise & Picnic

11.15am Nature with Picnic: 1hour 45min Milford Sound Nature Cruise with a freshly packed Picnic Lunch.

1.30pm Nature Cruise only

Reviews

4.42

209 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

134

Very enjoyable and scenic
Peter M,
Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00
We went on a day where it rained but the weather cleared once we headed out. We went on the smaller vessel at 12:45 and the traffic to Milford Sound was ok and took about 2 hours from Te Anu. The cruise was just the right amount of time and got to see all the highlights. Everyone got out on the top deck as windows inside were a bit foggy due to the weather. A little bit pricey but you only probably come once in your lifetime.
Wonderful experience!
lisalC9338AC,
Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Amazing bus ride to Milford Sound. Special shoutout to our driver Shale and your guide Ellie, they were both amazing!!!
Excellent boat ride...
Anita U,
Dec 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Excellent boat ride through stunning scenery. Buffet lunch was delicious. But the highlight was the scenery.
Highly Recommend!
Tyler Z,
Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had the best time with Southern Discoveries and our guides, Petr and Yoda. We booked the bus, cruise, bus tour from Queenstown last minute as weather in the area prevented us from flying into the sound as we originally planned to do. I am so happy we ended up taking the bus in as the views driving through the park were absolutely stunning. I really appreciated that we made several photo stops along the way and our guides were awesome about being photographers during the stops to make sure we got the best photos! I learned a lot about the area from Petr along the way as he narrated the drive and Yoda drove the windy wet roads the entire way like a pro! There were also 2 food stops along the way which were delicious! It is a long day but Southern Discoveries makes it an enjoyable day - the trip is absolutely worth it!!
Milford Sound
stephendM101QF,
Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00
The coach drive and Stan the driver were amazing however be aware the best viewing seats on the cruise are prebooked by other tour groups and the buffet is mediocre at best. Also there is no guarantee you will see mitre peak. In retrospect I would have done the coach tour but not the cruise.
Magical
Rosemand L,
Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Wonderful experience of a pristine and tranquil environment. The majestic mountains filled us with a sense of awe.
Milford sounds cruise and buffet
Annette C,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We did the cruise on a winters day. It was cold and windy. Still a great trip and would recommend doing the trip even when it was raining. We had the buffet meal, which was very yummy too.
every mile was worth it
965raynahc,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
From Queenstown to Milford Sound on 31st Oct, our guide Keith, really made the journey special. His knowledge about the area and its history was impressive, and he was super friendly, which made the long drive enjoyable. The scenery on the way to Milford Sound is breathtaking—I couldn't believe how beautiful everything was. Keith pointed out interesting spots along the way and shared stories that brought the landscape to life. When we finally reached Milford Sound, it was just as stunning as I had hoped. The waterfalls and mountains were jaw-dropping!
This is a must do!!
X9998GWsoniab,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was an incredible day! The Milford Sound is an amazing place to visit, no matter what the weather conditions are. Our bus driver, Greg, was informative, engaging and witty. We were picked up from Queenstown and Greg shared local knowledge during the whole journey and made the day run smoothly. The skipper on the boat was very knowledgeable of the Sound and its history. The buffet lunch was plentiful and delicious - would recommend this option.
Double standards
Mukeshdadia,
Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
Took Southern Discoveries Milford Sound Coach and Nature Cruise on 14 Oct 2025. Coach reg ended in 512. Generally driving and cruise were good When we boarded the coach we were asked to sit at the back as front seats were taken up and 'people had paid extra for those seats'. Later during the trip driver moved several passengers to the front. He had seen my wife's arm was in a sling yet did not make any effort to move her to the front where it would have been easier for her to get on and off at various stops. He also announced that on the return journey we should not change seats. We do not understand why he lied about people having paid extra. Did he not realise we could easily see he was moving particular passengers forward? Driver took upon himself to segregate his clients and this action was disgusting. He seems to be years behind in his thinking.